(Macdonald, pg 67)
"The whole competitive struggle is presented as a lottery in which a few winners, no more talented or energetic than any one else, drew the lucky tickets."
Amber and the rest of the crew in the show "drew the lucky tickets", in the sense that they were able to perform on the show because of their looks, connections (amber), or talent (link). However, Seaweed, Inez were not as lucky as them to perform on air because they didn't have their lucky break yet. But is this all an artist requires to make it big ? What is success to them ?
At the end of the show, Inez wins the pageant only because Link pulled her onto the set spontaneously. This suggests that if Inez wasn't present at that moment, she may not have that opportunity to display her dancing talents on screen. Do we count this as her lucky ticket to fame ?
I'm also intrigued by the proposal of a homogenised/integrated set on the Corny Collins show. Macdonald talks about a homogenised culture in page 62 of his article, of how people from different backgrounds, all walks of life, are able to sync in with one culture - the mass culture. In Hairspray, the blacks were integrated in the show, and Negro Day was cancelled, which signifies the breaking down of barriers between people from different class, backgrounds, race. However, should we be worried that this coalesce of people would result in the shift in "idols of production" to those of "idols of consumption" (Macdonald, page 67) ?
Would this integration of races be the next popular thing ? And then we would then have to witness its degradation as businessman, alike to the manager in Hairspray, demands for the next thing that sells ? And this new group of entertainers would have to conform to doing things that sells (link that to "idols of consumption") ? Can these artists really bring new things into the industry ?
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haha that's all for now
Your first potential investigation considers the extent to which luck or talent play a role in "winning" a place on the CC show. However, your example of Seaweed does not fit comfortably in either category. There is active discrimination against him, which won't allow him onto the mainstream show. Luck and talent have got him as far as the Negro Day performance (his mother is the organiser, so there is some luck involved.) So, as you can see from my response, your premise is interesting and thought-provoking enough to warrant a debate.
ReplyDeleteYour second premise is equally fascinating, as you recognise homogenization in Hairspray as positive - contrary to Macdonald's claim. Or is it...?